Changes to the DBS ID checking guidelines

This news article was withdrawn on 2 February 2017

No longer current government activity.

From 8 June 2015, the paper counterpart to the photocard driving licence will not be valid and will no longer be issued by DVLA. Paper driving licences issued before the photocard was introduced in 1998 will remain valid and should not be destroyed.

For the DBS ID checking process this means that just the driving licence photocard needs to be checked, unless an old style paper driving licence is produced (pre-1998).

We will update our identity checking guidelines to include this change. A photocard driving licence issued by the DVLA without the paper counterpart will be classed as a group 1 identity document for DBS check applicants.

There will be no need to view the paper counterpart for driving licences issued before the date of the change. These are minimum ID requirements and will not impact how you validate an applicants identity.

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